Combination letter with message carrying unit and return mailing piece



Nov. 19, 1963 3,111,258

E. PERLSTEIN COMBINATION LETTER WITH MESSAGE CARRYING UNIT AND RETURN MAILING PIECE Filed Feb. 28, 1962 'fiuiausrm RS WASHINGTON D.C

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL SMITH Co.

w SHINGTON 0.0.

FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

EDWARD PERLSTEIN M 7 q @ILM? ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,111,258 COMBENATIGN LETTER WITH MESSAGE CARRY- ING UNIT AND RETURN MAHJENG PIECE Edward Perlstein, 48 E. 21st St, New York 16, REY. Filed Feb. 28, 1%2, Ser. No. 175,391 1 Claim. ((15. 229-923) The present invention is a combination letter with message carrying unit and return mailing piece, objects of which are to provide a single sheet of paper stock, one face of which comprises a letterhead and letter space with an intermediate Window through which the name of an addressee, written on a mailing piece secured to the opposite face of the sheet of paper, is readable when said mailing piece is strategically positioned on and secured to the paper sheet, the mailing piece carrying information for the addressee, a message, pertinent to said information, being included in a unit secured to the top of the letter sheet adjacent said window; to provide a letter sheet with a window, above which a mailing piece is detachably secured along the top of the latter, leaving the bottom and ends of the mailing piece detached for facility in removing it from the 'letter sheet; and to provide a letter sheet with a window, in back of which is a mailing piece equipped with securing means adjacent its upper margin and opposite terminals to effect spot engagement of the mailing piece to the back of the letter sheet for retaining the name of an addressee in a position to be readable through the window, the mailing piece being expeditiously removable from the letter sheet, by hand, Without mutilating either the letter or mailing piece.

A further object of this invention is to provide a letter sheet for the reception of a letterhead and letter with a window, in back of which window is a mailing piece, bearing a name and address, readable through the window, and information sought to be conveyed to the addressee; the front of the letter sheet also supporting a message carrying piece in the form of a folder, secured near the top of the letter sheet, known as a Tip-On top, the message being a condensation of the subject matter of the letter and the subject matter of the mailing piece, in capsule form, intended to spur the reader into activity to forthwith remove and post the mailing piece, and/ or to read the subject matter in the body of the letter.

Other objects of this invention will be manifest from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a letter sheet with return mailing piece secured to the back, and a message carrying unit secured to the front with a window in the letterhead through which the name and address of an addressee on the mailing piece is shown;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same except that the message carrying unit shows the unit folder in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational View of a mailing piece, in the present instance consisting of an envelope with the name and address of an addressee on the flap of the envelope;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the flap of the envelope elevated to expose information on the back of the "ice envelope body, for use by the receiver of the mailing piece;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a modified form of mailing piece consisting of a postcard; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the invention as shown in PEG. 1, dotted lines being illustrated to show the circular of the message carrying unit in partly open and in completely open position.

Prior art:

2,078,873, Binger, April 27, 1937 2,768,780, Miller, October 30, 1956 3,018,033, Henry, January 23, 1962 This invention comprises a letter sheet 10 which may be of the standard 8 /2 x 11 size, the body of which is adapted for the reception of writing generally designated 11 which forms the contents of the letter. The top of the letter sheet is provided with a letterhead indicated at 12, immediately beneath which is a window 13.

The return mailing piece designated 14 in the present form of the invention, consists of an envelope 15 which has a flap i6 which is preferably of oblong shape to provide adequate space for the reception of the name and address of the addressee 17.

The flap carries near its upper margin one or more adhesive agents :18. Preferably it has been found that two relatively small adhesive elements are used to advantage if positioned substantially as shown in FIG. 3, which is in relatively close proximity to the top of the envelope flap and lies in relatively close proximity to the opposite ends of the flap. These adhesive agents are adapted to be pressed directly against the back of the letter sheet it as advantageously in FIG. 6. The back of the envelope body is provided with indicia 19 for the information of the receiver of the mailing piece and for use by the receiver in placing an order.

Instead of using an envelope, it has also been found advantageous to use, in the solicitation of certain business, a postcard 2%} which is of conventional size, on the front of which is printed, as indicated at :21, the name of the company to which the postcard is to be returned. The back of the postcard may contain the same data as the back of the envelope, as indicated at 17 in FIG. 3, which is in this instance the name and address of the addressee. Also the back of the postcard may contain information as to the cost, etc., of the publication or commodity which is being presented to the addressee. The back of the postcard is provided with one or more of the adhesive agents 18 so that the card may be secured to the back of the letter sheet it in the same manner as the envelope is attached.

When the mailing piece 14 is properly secured, it will be positioned precisely as shown in PIGS. 1 and 2 so that the name of the addressee may be read through the window 13. Preferably the mailing piece is positioned at the left side of the letter sheet.

The letter sheet 10 also has secured thereto a message carrying unit generally designated 22, which is preferably a folder. The front of the folder may contain indicia, as indicated generally at 23, or pictorial illustrations or the like germane to the message printed or written on the inside of the folder, which message is adapted to condense the subject matter of the letter, and also the subject matter on the back of the mailing piece, so that as soon as the circular is flipped open, the reader gets a capsule form 3 of the subject matter of the letter and mailing piece. The back of the folder of unit 23 may be adhesively coated, or provided with an adhesive agent 18, so as to secure the unit to the front face of the letter sheet at the top of the latter.

The return mailing piece and message carrying unit are so positioned on the letter sheet that the latter may be folded in a conventional manner. In FIG. 1 of the drawing there are shown imaginary fold lines 24 to provide, in effect, three panels. In the top panel there is shown letter head 12 and the Window 13, through which the name and address of the addressee of the return mailing piece 14 is read-able. Additionally, on the same panel the message carrying unit 22 is secured. As a result, the letter sheet with its appurtenances may be folded in the usual manner, and the folded letter and its appurtenances slid into an envelope of standard size.

In folding, it is preferred that the top panel be reversely folded into engagement with the intermediate panel with the bottom panel of the letter sheet folded into superimposed relation on top of the message carrying unit 22, so as to provide a smooth uninterrupted surface on both sides of the folded letter which will be in contiguity with the front and back of the envelope when the letter is positioned in the latter. This is important in inserting folded in the present preferred form of the invention, within the scope of the claim hereto appended.

What is claimed is: A combination letter with message unit and return 4- mailing piece including a letter sheet of standard size, adapted to be folded in a conventional manner preparatory to being inserted in an envelope of standard size, said letter sheet having, one one face, a letter head, a letter and a Window, a mailing piece, independent of the letter sheet, secured to the back of the latter, near the top of the sheet, to permit reading of a name and address, on the mailing piece, through said window, a message carrying unit secured to the front of the letter sheet, in the plane of the letter head and window, permitting the upper portion of the letter sheet, which carries the mailing piece and message carrying unit, to be folded as an entity on an intermediate part of the sheet, preparatoryto folding the bottom of the sheet into superimposed engagement With the message carrying unit to facilitate sliding of the folded letter sheet, and its appurtenances, into said standard size envelope, said mailing piece being secured on the left side of the letter sheet and the message carrying unit on the right side, the unit comprising a folder adapted to be flipped open, While still secured to the letter sheet, for immediate reading after the sheet has been removed from the envelope, and the folded bottom part of the sheet, unfolded from on top of said unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 892,461 Stevens July 7, 1908 1,287,804 Weiss Dec. 17, 1918 2,222,341 Stuhlrnan Nov. =19, 1940 2,417,982 Histed Mar. 25, 1947 2,541,173 Moore Feb. 13, 1951 3,011,692 Nafziger Dec. 5, 1961 

